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Equipment Discussions >> Reflectors

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SeeEmComing
member


Reged: 09/12/07

Loc: Doylestown P.A.
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: Dave.]
      #2486479 - 06/27/08 02:07 PM

I like the color- Dave
SeeEmComing


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DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 10/25/05

Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: SeeEmComing]
      #2488603 - 06/28/08 07:58 PM Attachment (443 downloads)

The 17.5" Discovery ready for another night of viewing.

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Maureen
Geek Mom
*****

Reged: 04/27/05

Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: DeepSpaceTour]
      #2488625 - 06/28/08 08:12 PM

Very Nice Bill! Where are the altitude bearings from? They certainly don't look like they're from Discovery.
Maureen


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DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 10/25/05

Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: Maureen]
      #2488631 - 06/28/08 08:17 PM

Thanks Maureen.No they are not Discovery Alt bearings,they are Obsession,they were needed to make the Dob Driver 2000.0 tracking system work properly.

Clear skies.


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dvb
different Syndrome.
*****

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: DeepSpaceTour]
      #2489085 - 06/29/08 01:15 AM Attachment (419 downloads)

My 10" f/4.7 Skywatcher. On an EQ6 Pro.

- The focuser is the Orion drop-in replacement low-profile Crayford
- An ADM Losmandy-style replacement, and then Vixen adapter holds the dovetail very well (until I decide to get some Parallax rings).
- Wilcox Ring really helps loading and unloading the tube, as well as with rotation.
- Ethos 8mm in focuser actually requires a lot of out-focus, more than the Orion can provide -- keen eyes will note the extension tube from a JMI focuser on the bench.
- Not seen is a Howie Glatter laser, which is great!


Edited by dvb (06/29/08 01:18 AM)


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pferendzo
super member


Reged: 02/10/08

Loc: St Louis
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: dvb]
      #2489247 - 06/29/08 06:36 AM

I have the Orion equivalent to your set up... but movement in RA puts the eyepiece in an awkward position forcing me to wrestle with the tube to rotate it. How does the Wilcox ring work for you... any details on your particular implementation?

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dvb
different Syndrome.
*****

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: pferendzo]
      #2489485 - 06/29/08 10:48 AM

I replaced the round-headed bolt that acts as a hing for the front Orion-type ring and replaced it with a flat-headed bolt. I countersunk the hole -- the metal is soft, so it was easy to do with an electric drill, even though I am not very "handy".

This created a flat surface so the Orion ring could turn against the Wilcox ring itself as a kind of bearing. I can then loosen the tension bolts on the rings until they are almost apart and turn the tube, with Wilcox ring turning agains the Orion ring.

The Wilcox ring also provides some security against the tube sliding down and out, but that security is not perfect (as when the tube is in the position in the picture) so I take care not to remove the tension bolts completely. A finger against the bottom of the tension bolt tells me when the bolt is loose enough, but still engaged.

Only other thing I do differently from most Wilcox rings is to use a single, 14" gear clamp, instead of connnecting a number hose clamps. There are some good, if lengthy discussions of making Wilcox rings elsewhere on CN.

Next, I intend to line the Orion-type rings with strips of flocking paper, and perhaps wax the tube, to make the turning smoother.

However, I've been very impressed by how well it works as is -- keeping the object in the eyepiece after a substantial turn at 150x.

Clear Skies!


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pferendzo
super member


Reged: 02/10/08

Loc: St Louis
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: dvb]
      #2489575 - 06/29/08 11:51 AM

Thanks... I need to give it a try.

I find the biggest obstacles to using my equipment are ease of set up and ease of use - that's why my XT10 sees so little use, compared to my refractors and MCT.


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JPG
member


Reged: 05/04/07

Loc: LI, NY
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: pferendzo]
      #2492427 - 06/30/08 09:11 PM Attachment (333 downloads)

This is my SN-6 and my first scope. I just add an ST-80 to start autoguide and now wait some clear nights to test it.
JP

Edited by JPG (06/30/08 09:11 PM)


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lymorkiew45
Pooh-Bah


Reged: 12/30/07

Loc: Surfing the galaxy...
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: JPG]
      #2492455 - 06/30/08 09:30 PM

Good choice, not to big, not to small...clear skies

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DaemonGPF
Redonkulous
*****

Reged: 03/22/08

Loc: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 [Re: JPG]
      #2493429 - 07/01/08 12:44 PM

Quote:

This is my SN-6 and my first scope. I just add an ST-80 to start autoguide and now wait some clear nights to test it.
JP




That is a very clean looking setup.


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dvb
different Syndrome.
*****

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: DaemonGPF]
      #2493916 - 07/01/08 05:45 PM

Nice SN6 set-up -- and, because it has a corrector plate, you can post it again in the CATS forum!

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jcely7
super member
*****

Reged: 10/21/07

Loc: Minnesota
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: Jason B]
      #2494085 - 07/01/08 07:26 PM

Z10 dob on a recently refurbished star-liner mount. (still need to do the electronics though)



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yonkrz
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 11/16/06

Loc: SW Minnesota
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 new [Re: jcely7]
      #2494426 - 07/01/08 10:33 PM

Looks Good,i like it!!

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DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 10/25/05

Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 [Re: yonkrz]
      #2495346 - 07/02/08 01:13 PM Attachment (397 downloads)

And just for the heck of it here is a current photo from the beginning-set up of last night-this mornings all nighter at a dark sky site....note the F80 finder scope,what a fantastic finder,and a small telescope in it's own right!!

Edited by DeepSpaceTour (07/02/08 01:30 PM)


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Maureen
Geek Mom
*****

Reged: 04/27/05

Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 [Re: DeepSpaceTour]
      #2495413 - 07/02/08 01:43 PM

Bill,
I like your scope. Have you changed the original set up for attaching the truss poles to the UTA? If so, what have you done and is it easier? Any info would be appreciated. Always looking for ways to improve my 12.5" Discovery.
Thanks,
Maureen


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DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 10/25/05

Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 [Re: Maureen]
      #2495570 - 07/02/08 03:07 PM

Maureen;

Thank you again.No that is the way Discovery used to do the truss pole connections on the trusses,it works very well and is esthetically pleasing as well.

Clear skies.


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skyward_eyes
Vendor-Woodland Hills/Focus
*****

Reged: 12/12/06

Loc: California
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 [Re: DeepSpaceTour]
      #2495577 - 07/02/08 03:10 PM

My friend has an older 17.5" but the new scopes look like they have made a lot more upgrades. They look very clean.

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SigmaOrionis
journeyman


Reged: 06/27/08

Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 [Re: skyward_eyes]
      #2496104 - 07/02/08 07:28 PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum but not astronomy. I've been at it for about 10 years. This is my Discovery 10"/F6 non split tube. I purchased it about 8 years ago. Its a great telescope very smooth in ALT/AZ. Great optics as far as I can tell. Nice construction and holds its collimation very well. The only negative is that it is very heavy and a little awkward to carry. The altitude bearings have handles so this helps. Still its not the best scope to have to transport around.

This file is hosted on a photo sharing site. Hope it doesnt violate forum rules.





Edited by Don W (07/03/08 07:32 AM)


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dvb
different Syndrome.
*****

Reged: 06/18/05

Loc: Vancouver, Canada
Re: Post a picture of your reflector - PART 2 *DELETED* [Re: SigmaOrionis]
      #2496790 - 07/03/08 01:47 AM

Post deleted by Don W

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